Roundabout



Sept. 27, 1927. 43,499

0. C. HULSMAN ROUNDABOUT Filed Feb. 26. 1924 gnaw-"low OscAR CJ-luLsMAN 6H0: new;

Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

7 UNITED STATES OSCAR C. HULSMAN, OF MIDDLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROUNDABOUT.

Application filed February 26 1924. Serial No. 895,280.

My invention consists in a new and useful improvement in roundabouts and is designed to provide a device having a clrcular platform which will oscillate vertically while in rotation. The particularly novel feature of my invention consists in the means which I'provide to permit oscillation of the platform during rotation and at the same time limit such oscillation to prevent collision'of the platform with the ground.

This means comprises a head provided with an interior conical recess and mounted for rotation upon a 1 pin upon a supporting post, and a buffer ring depending from said head and embracing said post. The recess in the head permits oscillation of the head on the pin and the buffer ring limits the degree of this oscillation. I

In the drawing filed herewith, I have illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention but it is to be understood that l do not consider my invention limited to the details of construction illustrated in said embodiment and hereinafter fully described,

2 but refer for its scope to the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my device, the solid lines indicating the platform in equilibrium and the dotted lines indicating it at the limit of its oscillation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my device.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the circular platform.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a fragment of the platform and one of the supports and connecting means therefor.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the buffer ring in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. v

v The device illustrated in the drawing is shown mounted upon a post 1 securely bedded in a concrete foundation 2 and provided at its. upper end with a screw-cap block 3 in which is vertically adjustably mounted the pin 4 held in place by lock-nuts 5. I

/ provide a head 6 having the form of an inverted truncated cone and provided with an interior conical recess 7 and an outwardly turned top flange 8. This head 6 is mounted for rotation and oscillation upon the upper. end of the pin 4 received into the apex of the conical recess 7. Riveted to and depending from the flange 8 is a series of angle-irons 9 to the bottoms of whiehis attached the buffer ring 10 which encircles the post 1. A series of angle-irons 11 serve as spokes and are bolted to the flange 8 and radiate from the head 6. These spokes 11 are inclined slightly downwardly from the center toward the circumference of the device. A rim 12 encircles the ends of the spokes 11 and is bolted thereto. A series of angle-irons 13 also serve as spokes and are bolted to the buffer ring 10 and rim 12, inclined slightly upwardly from the center toward the circumference and are disposed in staggered relation to the spokes 11. Mounted upon the rim 12 is a platform 14 formed of lapped segments 15 which are fastened to the spokes 11 and 13 by U-bolts 16 provided with plates 17, blocks 18 and nuts 19. I also provide a bracing ring 20 spaced a short distance from the head 6 and attached to the spokes 11 by bolts 21 and a similar ring 22 attached to the spokes 13 by bolts 23.

From the foregoing description of the de- 1 tails of construction of my device, it will be seen that passengers may be seated upon so the platform 14 and propel the device by pushing upon the ground with their feet causing the device to rotate. "If the load upon the platform is evenly distributed about the circumference of the device, the latform will be in equilibrium and so para lel with the surface of the ground, but if the load is. unevenly distributed the platform 14 will be caused to oscillate and will assume. the go'sition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

hould the load be varied while the platform is in rotation, by reason of a change in the number of passengers, the platform 14 will be caused to oscillate within the range permitted by the buffer ring 10. It is to be noted that by reason of the limitation of oscillation imposed by the buffer ring 10, the platform 14 is not permitted to collide with the ground, thus eliminating any danger of crushing the passengers limbs, 21 most important advantage.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: 1. In a roundabout, the combination of a post adjustable vertically; an inverted 105 truncated cone rovided with a .conical recess in which t e top of said post is received; and a latform carried by said cone.

2. A rounda out comprising a post, a pin in the head of said post and adjustable ver- 110 I tically therein, an inverted truncated cone flange, a buffer ri attached to the botprovided with a conical recess in which said tom of said ca'ge an surrounding the post,

pin is received and provided also with an spokes radiating from said bufier ring and 10 outwardl turned flange, spokes radiating attached to said ri'm. 5 from sai flange, a rim connecting the ends In testimony whereof I aflix my signaof the spokes, a platform sup orted on said ture. rim and spokes, a cage depen ing from said I OSCAR C. HULSMAN. 

